Kicker mechanism for stamping press



June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPING PRESS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1965 M: 75, 4 W; W07 mm w .ar C w m Y/ av m; 5 DJ Y B June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPINGPRESS Filed March 15. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR.

5058) C THOMPSON BYW 6g June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON 3,323,400

KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPING PRESS Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet3 FIG.- 5

FIG: 7

IN VENT OR.

BOBBY C. THOMPSON United States Patent 3,323,400 KIQKER MEEHANISM FDRSTAMPZNG PRESS Bobby C. Thompson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to FreewayWasher 8; Stamping Company, a corporation of Qhio Filed Mar. 15, 1965,Ser. No. 439,672 12 Claims. (Cl. 83-160) My invention relates to kickermechanisms whereby stampings and the like are diverted or kicked asideupon being ejected from a die of a stamping press.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism forreadily and efficiently diverting from the path of a punch of a stampingpress a stamping ejected from the die thereof.

Another object is the provision for minimizing lag or delay in theoperation of a kicker mechanism to obtain a more efiicient operation.

Another object is the provision of a mechanism for operating a kicker bythe reciprocating action of the ram rather than by a flywheel or otherparts in the power train of the press.

Another object is the provision of a kicker mechanism so arranged andconstructed as to minimize shock and vibration in the operation of thesame.

Another object is the provision of an improved mechanism which is soarranged as to provide for rapid kicking or diverting action and forrapid withdrawal of the kicker from the path of the punch in its forwardstamping movement.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a stamping press showingmy improved kicker mechanism mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of my improved kicker mechanism showing thekicker device in raised position, withdrawn from the path of the punchof the press;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view of the kicker mechanism as shown inFIGURE 2 but showing the kicker device in lowered position athwart theline of movement of the punch of the press;

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of the kicker mechanism, partly insection, looking in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view looking forwardly of the press and is a view lookingin the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the kicker mechanism, partly in section,looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line 7-7 ofFIGURE 5.

My kicker mechanism is particularly adapted for diverting or kicking toone side stampings as they are ejected outwardly of a die during thewithdrawing movement of the punch from the die. An example of means forejecting stampings from a die during the withdrawing movement of thepunch is shown in US. Patent No. 2,584,168, issued Feb. 5, 1952, toWalter S. Sutowski. After stampings are so ejected from a die, it isnecessary that they be rapidly diverted or kicked aside out of the pathof the punch prior to the time the punch begins its next forward orstamping movement and thus clear the way for the punch. My kickermechanism herein shown and described is particularly adapted for suchpurpose.

A press frame indicated generally by the reference character 11 carriesat the forward end a bolster 12 upon which is mounted a die 10. A ram13, partially shown in 3,323,400 Patented June 6, 1967 "ice FIGURE 1, isoperatively connected to a flywheel or other driving mechanism forreciprocation of the ram so as to move forwardly in a stamping operationpunches 14 and to withdraw the punches 14 in the alternate rearwardmovement of the ram 13. The punches 14 stamp out stampings from a stripof stock material 16, such as steel, being progressively moved acrossthe face of the die 10. A. stripper plate 15 has openings through whichthe punches 14 reciprocally move toward and away from the die 10. Aguide element 18 aids in guiding the strip 16 from Which the stampingshave been punched as the strip 16 leaves the face of the die and moveslaterally thereof.

Bolted to the bolster 12 by means of bolts 29 is a block 27, the block27 having slots 27A through which the bolts 29 extend and which providefor adjustment of the position of the block 27 relative to the bolster12. As seen in the drawings, the block 27 is stepped. Secured by meansof bolts 28 to the rearward face of the block 27, that is, on the sidetoward the ram 13, there is a plate 20A forming the back wall on anupright guide member 20. This guide member 20 has two parallel barportions extending downwardly in a plane generally normal to the line ofmovement of the ram 13. Secured to the opposing faces of the guide bars20 carried by back plate 20A are upright ways 21. Four bolts 22 securethe ways to the upright bars of the guide member 20. For facilitatingadjustment to accommodate for wear, nut and bolt assemblies 23 areprovided. These adjusting nut and bolt assemblies 23 permit one of theways to be moved toward and away from its corresponding bar portion ofthe upright guide 20.

Each of the ways 21 has disposed along its face directed toward theother ways 21 a plurality of ball bearings 24 arranged in a straightrow. The ball bearings 24 are held in position by a longitudinalretainer 25 adjacent each way 21.

Positioned between the opposed faces of the ways 21 and within the tworows of ball bearings 24 is a kickercarrying slide member 19 havingbearing engagement with the opposed balls 24. The arrangement of theways 21 and the kicker-carrying slide member 19 is such that the member19 may be moved upwardly and downwardly in a plane substantially normalto the line of movement of the ram 13. In other words, the movement ofthe member 19 is in a plane that is generally transverse to the punchingmovement of the punches 14 carried by the ram 13. Firmly secured to theslide member 19 by bolts 26 is a kicker plate or device 17. This plate17 moves upwardly and downwardly with the kicker-carrying member 19 in alane parallel to the plane of the member 19, that is, normal to the lineof movement of the ram 13. The kicker plate 17 is located immediatelyforward of the strip material 16, that is, between the strip material 16and the die 10 so that upon downward movement of the kicker plate 17,stampings ejected from the die are diverted or kicked downwardly by thelower edge of the kicker plate 17. Upon upward movement of the member19, the kicker plate 17 is also moved upwardly out of the path of thepunches 14 as they move forwardly in a stamping operation.

Secured to the top wall of the supporting block 27 by means of bolts 31is a bracket guide or key holder 30. As seen in FIGURE 5, the bracketguide 30 has an overhang portion 30A and held within and extendingdownwardly from the overhead portion 30A is a longitudinal guide key 32held there by bolts 33. The guide key 32 extends in a longitudinaldirection relative to the press.

Carried by the ram 13 there is a bracket member 37 secured thereto bymeans of bolts 38. At the free end of the bracket 37, a bolt 39 securesthe rearward end 35A of an arm member 35 in such manner that the armmemher 35 reciprocates forwardly and rearwardly in correspondence withthe movement of the ram 13. Secured to the arm 35 is another arm 34 sothat the two arms 34 and 35 in effect provide one longitudinal armmember extending generally longitudinally of the press. The arm member35 has a slot 35B through which extend adjusting bolts 36 which uponbeing tightened firmly secure the arms 34 and 35 together so as to moveas an integral arm member. By loosening the adjusting bolts 36, therelative extension of the arm member may be adjusted by changing theposition of the arms 34 and 35 relative to each other and by againtightening the bolts 36. The rearward end 35A of arm 35 is firmly heldto the bracket 37 by tightening the bolt 39.

The arm 34 has a longitudinally extending groove 34B extending along itsupper surface, the arm 34 terminating in a forward end portion 34A whichis ungrooved. The key or block 32 held by bolts 33 in the overhangportion 30A of bracket guide 30' slidably rides in the longitudinalgroove 34B. By the arrangement shown, the arm member made up of arms 34and 35 may slide in a reciprocal movement longitudinally of the pressand in a path generally parallel to the line of movement of the ram 13.The lower surface of the arm 34 rides in a sliding fit with the topsurface of the supporting block 27. By this means, there is a freesliding movement of the arm in a longitudinal direction and slapping orstriking of the arm against the supporting block 27 during movement ofthe arm 34 is minimized.

Secured to a side of the arm 34 by firmly threaded interengagementtherewith is a pin 40. This pin 40 has an axis which is in a planenormal to the line of movement of the arm member made up of arms 34 and35 and hence also normal to the line of movement of the ram 13.Pivotally carried by means of a pivot pin 41 in the supporting block 27is a bell crank 42 having one crank arm 42A and another crank arm 42Bdisposed substantially at right angles to each other. The crank arm 42Bis directed generally rearwardly toward the location of the ram 13 andthe arm 42A is directed generally upwardly therefrom. The pivot pin 41extends through the fulcrum of the bell crank 42 whereby the arms 42Aand 42B pivotally swing in a plane disposed generally parallel to theline of movement of the ram 13. The bell crank 42 is swingable in an arebetween its position shown in FIGURE 2 and its position shown in FIGURE3, these showing the two extreme locations of the bell crank 42 in itsswinging movement.

Extending through the free end of the crank arm 42B is a pivot pin 43whereby a link member 44 is pivotally connected by means of the pivotpin 43 to the free end of the arm 42B. The lower end of the link member44 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 45 to a clevis member46, which in turn is firmly secured to the upper portion of thekicker-carrying slide member 19.

The pin 40 carried by the arm members made up of arms 34 and 35 toreciprocate therewith in a longitudinal direction extends through a slot47 which is provided in the crank arm 42A. The pin 40 extends throughthe slot 47 from the side of the arm 34 which carries the same. The slot47 is of generally arcuate form and is elongated to provide oppositearcuate edges 47A and 47B. The arcuate edge 47A is considerably longerthan the edge 47B by reason of the arcuate form of slot 47. Also whilethe edge 47A is of one long curve, the edge 47B is composed of twocurves blending or running into each other at a location intermediatethe ends of the slots 47 The length of the elongated slot 47 is suchthat the pin 40 never reaches the extreme ends of the slot in theswinging movement of the bell crank 42, that is, the pin 40 does notstrike or engage the terminal edge portions of the slot 47 and thusthere is avoidance of a jarring or striking action. The shape anddimensions of slot 47 are such as to provide the required amount of lagor dwell time in the downward swinging of the crank arm 42 so as topermit the stampings to be ejected from the die 10 by an ejectingmechanism before being kicked by the kicker plate 17.

The edge portions 47A and 47B defining the opposite sides of the slot 47provide camming surfaces which are alternately engaged by the pin 40.Upon the pin 40 being moved toward the right in FIGURES 2 and 3, thatis, on the withdrawing action of the ram 13, the pin 4%! camminglyengages the edge portion 47A and swings the bell crank 42 from theposition shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. As theslot 47 has the generally arcuate shape shown, there is an avoidance ofany upward and downward movement of the arm 34 and hence an avoidance ofstriking of the arm 34 against the supporting block 27. The contour ofthe slot edges is generated to provide the desired swinging action ofthe bell crank 42 by maintaining the longitudinal sliding action of thearm 34 along the supporting block 27.

Upon the ram 13 moving forwardly in a stamping operation and the arm 34being moved therewith from its relative position shown in FIGURE 3toward its position shown in FIGURE 2, the pin 46 cammingly engages theedge portion 47B of the slot 47 and thus swings the bell crank 42 fromthe position shown in FIGURE 3 toward the position shown in FIGURE 2.Thus, the pivotally swinging bell crank 42 with its slot 47 and pin 46provides a motion-transmitting means which translates longitudinalmovement of the arm member made up of arms 34 and 35 to a pivotalswinging movement of the bell crank 42. The bell crank 42, in turn,being connected by link 44 to the kicker-carrying slide member 19transmits this movement to a reciprocal movement of the member 19 in theplane generally normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. Thus, thecombination of parts provides for a motion-translating means which iseffective, which provides only the required degree of lag, and whichalso minimizes a jarring or striking action of the parts in theoperation of said motion-translating means.

As will be readily appreciated, the arrangement provides markedimprovements, benefits and advantages over the kicker devices heretoforeknown and in use.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims,as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its prefered form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A kicker mechanism for a stamping press to divert ejected stampingsfrom the path of a punch carried by a ram of the press reciprocablymovably toward and away from a die-supporting frame of the press,comprising in combination, a supporting member carried by said frame, abell crank having its fulcrum pivotally carried by a fixed pivot on saidsupporting member to provide for pivotal swinging of the bell crank onsaid fixed pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the line ofmovement of said ram, a slide member adapted to carry a kicker plate, aguide member carried by said frame and guiding said slide member forreciprocal movement in a plane substantially normal to said line ofmovement of said ram to move a kicker plate recurrently athwart the pathof said punch to divert stampings formed by said punch from said pathupon withdrawal of the punch from said die, a link member pivotallyconnecting the free end of a first arm of said bell crank to said slidemember to reciprocate the slide member upon pivotal swinging of saidbell crank, a bracket member mounted to said ram to reciprocatetherewith, an arm member having a first end portion operativelyconnected to said bracket memher to reciprocate therewith, said armmember having an opposite end portion reciprocally slidable along saidsupporting member upon said reciprocation of said arm member in a pathgenerally parallel to said line of movement of said ram, and a pincarried by said opposite end portion to reciprocation therewith anddisposed along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said armmember, said bell crank having an elongated slot extending through asecond arm thereof adjacent the free end thereof and accommodating saidpin therethrough, said elongated slot having oppositely disposed fixededge portions substantially equally spaced along the lengths thereof andalternately engageable by said pin as said pin reciprocates with saidarm member, said edge portions being arranged to accommodate for saidreciprocal movement of said pin and said pivotal swinging of said bellcrank arm, the said pin reciprocating with said arm member alternatelyhearing on said opposite edge portions and movable therealong topivotally swing said bell crank and to thereby reciprocate said slidemember and a kicker plate carried thereby, said bell crank, slot, andfixed pivot being arranged relative to the said opposite end portion andsaid slide member to move the slide member in a direction toward thepath of said punch upon withdrawing movement of the punch in a directionaway from the said die-supporting frame of the press to the fullywithdrawn position of the punch.

2. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and including roller bearingmeans interposed between said slide member and guide member forminimizing friction therebetween, and adjustable means associated withsaid arm member for adjusting the effective length of said arm member.

3. A kicker mechanism for a stamping press to divert ejected stampingsfrom the path of a punch carried by a ram of the press reciprocablymovable toward and away from a die-supporting bolster of the pressframe, comprising in combination, a bell crank having its fulcrumpivotally carried by a fixed pivot on said bolster and disposed topivotally swin on said fixed pivot in a plane parallel to the line ofmovement of said ram, said bell crank having a first arm and a secondarm disposed at an angle to each other from said fulcrum, a slide memberadapted to carry a kicker device therewith, a guide member havingopposed bearing ways adapted to embrace and guide said slide plate inreciprocal movement in a plane substantially normal to said line ofmovement of the said ram to move the kicker device carried therebyalternately in a direction athwart the line of movement of said punchupon withdrawing movement of the punch to divert stampings ejected fromthe die and in a direction away from said line of movement upon punchingmovement of the punch to clear said punch, a link member connecting saidfirst arm of the crank arm to said slide member to translate pivotalswinging movement of said crank arm in alternate opposite directions toreciprocal longitudinal movement of said slide member, an arm memberextending longitudinally of said press and having a rearward end portionoperatively connected to said ram to cause the arm member to bereciprocated longitudinally of the press in correspondence with thereciprocal movement of said ram, the said arm .member having a forwardend portion movable relative to and along said bolster, andmotion-transmitting means interconnecting said forward end portion ofthe arm member and said second arm of the bell crank to translatereciprocal longitudinal movement of the arm member to pivotal swingingof said crank arm in alternate opposite directions whereby reciprocationof the ram causes corresponding reciprocation of said slide member, saidmotion-translating means, arm member and bellcrank being arranged tocause the slide member to move in a direction away from said path of thepunch as said ram moves in a punching direction toward saiddiesupporting bolster.

4. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 3 and in which saidmotion-translating means includes a pin and a slideway for said pin, theslideway having opposed bearing surfaces alternately engageable by saidpin, said bearing surfaces being contoured in generally concentric urvesto provide a component of force between the pin and opposed bearingsurfaces engage-d thereby at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis ofsaid arm member, said curves being generated on centers disposed on theside of the slideway towards said fixed pivot, one of said pin andslideway being carried by the forward end portion of said arm member tolongitudinally reciprocate therewith and the other of said pin andslideway being carried by the said second arm of the bell crank topivotally swing therewith in opposite directions.

5. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 3 and in which the first armof the bell crank is directed generally rearwardly of the press and thesecond arm is directed generally upwardly, and in which said forward endportion of the arm is slidably guided in its reciprocal movementrelative to said bolster.

6. In a stamping press having a ram reciprocably movable along a line ofmovement relative to a die-supporting bolster of the press frame, animproved kicker mechanism for diverting from said line of movementstampings ejected from the die upon withdrawal therefrom of a punchcarried by the ram comprising the combination of a supporting membercarried by said bolster, a guide member carried by said supportingmember, a carrying member adapted to carry a kicker device and guided bysaid guide member to reciprocally move in a plane substantially normalto said line of movement of said ram to move a kicker device carriedthereby recurrently across said line of movement to divert said ejectedstampings from said line of movement, an arm member operativelyconnected to said ram to reciprocably move therewith along a pathlongitudinally of the press generally parallel to said line of movement,said arm member being slidably supported by said support member inmoving along said path, and motion-transmitting means operativelyconnecting by mechanical non-resilient means said arm member and saidkicker-carrying member and translating reciprocal movement of said armmember along said path into direct positive reciprocal movement of thekicker-carrying memher in said plane to cause the kicker carried by saidkickercarrying members to move positively athwart said line of movementfor diverting stampings during rearward withdrawing movements of the ramand to withdraw positively from said line of movement for clearing saidpunch during forward stamping movement of the ram, said kickercarryingmember being moved to its most extended diverting position toward saidline of movement upon said arm member being moved to its most withdrawnposition by the withdrawing movement of said ram.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 and in which saidmotion-transmitting means includes a bell crank pivotally mounted on afixed pivot carried by said supporting member, a link member operativelyconnecting the bell crank to the kicker-carrying member to reciprocatethe kicker-carrying member in said plane upon the pivotal swinging ofsaid bell crank on said fixed pivot in opposite directions, and apin-and-slot connection between the bell crank and arm member to causethe swinging of the bell crank in opposite directions by the reciprocalmovement of the arm member in said path, the slot of said connectionbeing disposed generally in an are generated on a center disposed on thesame side of the slot as said fixed pivot.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 and in which said bell crank ismounted to pivotally swing in a plane parallel to said line of movementof the ram, and in which the pin of said pin-and-slot connection iscarried by said arm member and the slot of said pin-and-slot connectionis carried by said bell crank.

9. In a stamping press having a ram reciprocably movable along a line ofmovement relative to a die-supporting bolster of the press frame, animproved kicker mechanism comprising the combination of first meanscarried by the bolster reciprocably movable in a plane generally normalto said line of movement for recurrently moving a kicker device carriedby the first means across said line of movement for diverting from saidline of movement stampings ejected from the die carried by the bolsterupon withdrawal from the die of a punch carried by the ram, second meanscarried by the ram and reciprocably movable therewith in a longitudinalpath generally longitudinally of said press frame, third means carriedby said bolster and operatively interconnecting by mechanicalnon-resilient means said first means and second means for translatingreciprocal movement of said second means along said longitudinal path todirect positive reciprocal movement of the first means in said plane,said third means including a fixed pivot carried by said bolster andabout which said third means moves, said third means being arranged tomove positively the first means in a diverting direction across saidline of movement upon movement of the second means in a withdrawingdirection with said ram and to move positively the first means in adirection away from said line of movement upon the movement of secondmeans in a forward direction with said ram, said movement of the firstmeans in said diverting direction continuing through the movement of thesecond means in a Withdrawing direction as the ram moves away from thediesupporting bolster.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 and including fourth meansassociated with said third means for maintaining movement of the secondmeans in said longi- 8 tudinal path substantially parallel to said lineof movement.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 9 and in which said third meansincludes a first member carried by one of said first and second meansand a second member carried by the other one of said first and secondmeans, said first member having opposed camming surfaces substantiallyequally spaced apart and alternately cammingly engageable by said secondmember to cause movement of the first member in alternate oppositedirections upon movement thereagainst in corresponding oppositedirections of the second member, said movements of the first and secondmembers being in planes at an angle to each other.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 and in which said firstmember is pivotally carried by said bolster to pivotally swing in aplane parallel to said line of movement and said second member iscarried by said second means and movable therewith parallel with saidlongitudinal path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,3 1/1910 Wallenthin 83-160 X1,677,151 7/1928 Simkins et a1. 83160 X 1,799,229 4/ 1931 Hanna 74-1102,521,461 9/1950 Jordan 83160 ANDREW R. IUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

6. IN A STAMPING PRESS HAVING A RAM RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE ALONG A LINE OFMOVEMENT RELATIVE TO A DIE-SUPPORTING BOLSTER OF THE PRESS FRAME, ANIMPROVED KICKER MECHANISM FOR DIVERTING FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENTSTAMPINGS EJECTED FROM THE DIE UPON WITHDRAWAL THEREFROM OF A PUNCHCARRIED BY THE RAM COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORTING MEMBERCARRIED BY SAID BOLSTER, A GUIDE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTINGMEMBER, A CARRYING MEMBER ADAPTED TO CARRY A KICKER DEVICE AND GUIDED BYSAID GUIDE MEMBER TO RECIPROCALLY MOVE IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMALTO SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM TO MOVE A KICKER DEVICE CARRIEDTHEREBY RECURRENTLY ACROSS SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT TO DIVERT SAID EJECTEDSTAMPINGS FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT, AN ARM MEMBER OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID RAM TO RECIPROCABLY MOVE THEREWITH ALONG A PATHLONGITUDINALLY OF THE PRESS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT,SAID ARM MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INMOVING ALONG SAID PATH, AND MOTION-TRANSMITTING MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTING BY MECHANICAL NON-RESILIENT MEANS SAID ARM MEMBER AND SAIDKICKER-CARRYING MEMBER AND TRANSLATING RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMMEMBER ALONG SAID PATH INTO DIRECT POSITIVE RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THEKICKER-CARRYING MEMBER IN SAID PLANE TO CAUSE THE KICKER CARRIED BY SAIDKICKERCARRYING MEMBERS TO MOVE POSITIVELY ATHWART SAID LINE OF MOVEMENTFOR DIVERTING STAMPINGS DURING REARWARD WITHDRAWING MOVEMENTS OF THE RAMAND TO WITHDRAW POSITIVELY FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT FOR CLEARING SAIDPUNCH DURING FORWARD STAMPING MOVEMENT OF THE RAM, SAID KICKERCARRYINGMEMBER BEING MOVED TO ITS MOST EXTENDED DIVERTING POSITION TOWARD SAIDLINE OF MOVEMENT UPON SAID ARM MEMBER BEING MOVED TO ITS MOST WITHDRAWNPOSITION BY THE WITHDRAWING MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM.